by Mike Gilbert, The News Tribune
The 3rd Brigade’s new commander, Col. David Funk, referred to it as “a math problem” when I asked him about when or if the brigade might next be called on for an overseas mission.
Funk didn’t divulge any dates or timetables, so what follows is pure conjecture on my part. Make of it what you will.
The Army has seven Stryker brigades. Where they are now, and what they might do next:
• 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division [replaced by 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment]: Safely esconced again at Fort Lewis and on their way out for a big chunk of block leave (W00t!). Assuming SecDef Gates and CJCS Mullen mean business with that 12 months of dwell time, 3-2 would be ready for deployment no earlier than this time next year.
• 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division [former 2nd Cavalry Regiment]: Not so safely esconced in Taji and Baqouba. Due home to Lewis apx June-July 2008. Again, assuming now fewer than 12 months dwell time, next deployable August 2009.
• 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division: Still waiting for that reflagging. The Destroyers are standing up and last I knew were to reach “initial operating capability” by early 2009.
• 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division: The Alaska Strykers got home in December 2006 after working overtime in Iraq as the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. They’re reset and ready and apparently standing by as part of the Pentagon’s “global response force.” They reach the SecDef’s dwell time standard next month or so.
• 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment: Former 1-25 from Fort Lewis arrived in Iraq via Germany in September and would figure to be there until November 2008. After redeployment, block leave, reset, etc., they’d be ready again by December 2009 or January 2010.
• 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division: As we speak is en route from Hawaii to Iraq. Figure they will be there into December 2008/January 2009, and available for more by February or March of 2010.
• 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team: The Pennsylvania National Guard brigade, currently fielding all its trucks and equipment, reportedly will be deployed to Iraq in February 2009.
So to sum up: Two new brigades in development, due to be ready early 2009.
One brigade just now unpacking after 15 months in Iraq (second trip), ready apx late late 2008, early 2009 — assuming 12 months dwell time is hard and fast.
One combat-tested brigade available more or less now for come-what-may.
Three brigades in Iraq, all due to come home in latter half of 2008.
